I am responding to this quote:
"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored
than to anything on which it is poured."
-Mark Twain
To me this quote means that someone being angry is more harmful than acid being poures onto something. It reminded me of our discussion in class on Tuesday about the short essay "Tourist, Stay Home." The author was so angry about tourists coming to her homeland. It made me angry when at the end of the essay she told us to stay home if we care at all about preserving the culture. I was offended by this because I went to Maui two years ago and was in awe of how beautiful it was. I didn't cause any harm to the culture like she thinks every American does. In fact I probably benefited the Hawaiian people by spending money while on vacation there.
I even noticed in class some of us were not too happy with what she had to say. She doesn't have the right to say who can and can't visit Hawaii. She is taking out the anger she has about the destruction of her culture on us. The state of Hawaii probably could not survive on it's own if it wasn't apart of the United States. I don't think it's very fair for her to blame Americans on the mainland when we're only trying to help Hawaii's economy. How does everyone feel about this? Does she have the right to place the blame on us?
I agree with the quote. Being angry is bad to have. I think it is hard for everyone to want to have their own way. That is why people get angry in the first place. If we didn't want anything, we would be dead (food obviously). We as humans need to sort the differences of wants and needs. That way, people will be living much happier lives.
ReplyDeleteThis quote speaks the truth. The more angry someone becomes, the more it festers and intensifies inside their head until they either chase off people the love isolate themselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as the Hawaiian author is concerned: She has no right to blame the American people for the "destruction" of Hawaiian culture. I'm sure America has impacted their culture somehow, but it's up to the native people to preserve their traditions and culture.
I agree that being only harms yourself. You can yell at whoever you want but in the end you are the one who is really upset and worked up. I think this quote applies to Ms. Ahmed's thinking. After she gives us back our papers she asks us to wait a day before emailing her. By doing this we have a chance to calm down if we are upset and really think about what we are going to say.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is awesome. When someone is mad at me Im not the one that's all disturbed and moody, its their problem! Its impossible to never get mad, but it definitively is possible to learn to control our anger and not let it consume us. As to the author of the Hawaiian story, she can honestly complain all she wants and live her life pissed off. People are not going to stop going to Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI agree with never pissing a woman off. But being angry does cause more bad than good. It does cause harm to yourself and others too. When you are angry, you let your emotions get the best of you. It is fine to be angry, but don't take it out on anyone. The Hawaiian author has a right to be angry. The author shouldn't take it out on Americans though even if some parts could be there fault. The author makes it worse and offends some people. Some might go just to piss Hawaiians off now. But anger is very bad to express onto others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this quote as well. Sometimes the hate we have for something eats away at us rather than those who had the hate directed at them. It eats away at us because it compromises our morals and because we become far to emotionally committed. Rather than letting it roll off our sleeves, it consumes us in a way. I think that is why the author of "Tourist, Stay Home" was so blunt and direct. She could not hold onto her distaste for tourism and Americans since it was eating away at her. As an American reader, I understood what she was saying and yes her "acid" or words of anger hurt, but only slightly. If given the chance to go to Hawaii, I would jump on it. The sting of the "acid" of her words would likely be washed away, while they continued to sting her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this quote as well. Whenever I become too angry with my family or friends it ends up making the situation worse. Then I am frustrated with the results of the situation. I have noticed that when I keep my cool things work smoother. As for the the article we read on tourists in hawaii the writer is just alienating potential sympathizers. Instead of ranting to us about tourists he should approach the subject in a way that will draw sympathy. Pointing the finger at tourists will not aid his cause.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your argument. In class I was saying that I live in St. Augustine and I see an insane amount of tourists all the time. But these people are coming here to see the historic landmarks left standing, not the culture. In Hawaii there is a culture that a lot of people want to go visit and experience. It is good nowadays to have a wide cultural perspective and go travel to different places. I don't stop people from turning Saint Augustine into a tourist town. If they want to see the historic landmarks let them see them. A lot of the businesses there, just like in Hawaii, rely on tourists to keep their business going and make a living. Although some people might not like it a whole lot, in reality, a lot of places survive through tourist business.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why she would be upset but at the same time at this point Hawaii does rely on tourism. They are like Florida in that sense. Without tourists, the hotels and many of the restaurants wouldn't be able to survive. There would be so many people that would loose jobs. It is sad that their native culture has changed but I don't think the state could survive going back.
ReplyDeleteI think this quote means that anger will hurt the person that is angry more than the people the anger is taken out on. She may not have to right to dictate who can come and who can go but she sure has the right to her opinion. So there is no harm there. You can disagree with her all you like, she is still entitled to her opinion at the end of the day. She has the right to place blame on whoever she likes because it is her opinion. So yes she has "the right" to place blame because it's her own opinion. Growing up in the everglades and in the woods i know how she feels. The Gladesman/Florida Cracker culture in Florida is trying to be killed off by "tourists" or snow birds and environmentalists rather. The VAST majority of these people who are trying to week out Gladesman/ Florida Cracker culture are people whom did not grow up in Florida. They are coming in and trying to change tradition and a way of life for many. And well i understand why the author of that story is pissed off, because I am pissed off that some people have to audacity to take away something that they know nothing about. Now granted it is a different situation in Hawaii that i am ignorant to, but something tells me there is a story just like mine in Hawaii as well.
ReplyDeleteI love this quote. I think it is so true. It is much more harmful to hold in anger and let it eat away at you then to let it out. I think that it is great how the author is letting her anger out rather then hold in her feelings on the matter. I think that she makes a valid point but I also think that she should be accepting of tourists. I come from a small beach town that has tons of tourists every spring. I personally don't like it either, no one does. Tourism is something that we all need to accept. It is what keeps our economy going. I think that she should be honored that so many people want to go to Hawaii and experience parts of their culture.
ReplyDeleteThe quote you used is awesome. I really really like it lol cause it's so true. Bottled up anger is pretty much worse than letting it explode on someone. I mean, she has a point with being upset with Americans. We are stereotyped as these nasty, pathetic, obese human beings who only care about themselves. So if we are flying over there just to pour our disgusting habits among their conservative culture, I can see where she is offended. But I also think she needs to slow her roll a little bit in bitching about how poorly we treat her culture. First of all, it's not just HER island. And like Connor stated in class, without U.S's tourism and income, Hawaii unfortunately wouldn't be able to run nearly as effective as they do right now.
ReplyDeleteYou took this too literally lol. The quote is saying that being angry eats the person holding the anger in more than the person that we are being malicious to. I definitely agree with that though. We act in anger because something is eating us so much inside that we can't contain it. That hurts us more then the person we lay mean words to because anger comes from a physical pain inside. Economically, she doesn't have the right to say we harmed them because they are a country that survives on tourism. Culturally, is a different story though.
ReplyDeletePeople automatically lump anger into a negative category; but I say that anger is one of the most useful and important emotions. Righteous anger that is. If someone harms your family or threatens them, why not be angry with them? In fact, how could you be anything but? Righteous anger can lead a revolution or silence a dictator. It can start a movement, or end tyranny. I think by having this anger and understanding it, you can harvest it to do something important with it. It doesnt have to eat you up inside; it can set you free. Spike Lee does this; so does Chuck Palahniuk, Rage against the Machine and Bob Dylan.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is so true! I agree with Priscilla, I think that when you hold anger inside, it only harms yourself...not the other person. But with this whole hawaii tourism thing, I just think this lady needs to calm down because no matter what, people are going to go there! I mean its a beautiful place! I think the author needs to take into consideration that the tourists are bringing in money for the state! So she shouldn't be complaining because we're helping her out! I mean I guess I understand where she's coming from but I don't think we've caused tons of damage over there...and if I'm wrong, then I think there needs to be like some sort of rule that doesn't allow tourists into certain parts of the state.
ReplyDeleteNo I don’t think she should be placing the blame on us (as I believe I made pretty clear in class on Tuesday). On another note your picture is quite funny, I lol’d. But anyways, since I feel like I voiced my opinion pretty clearly about that in class on Tuesday I’m going to talk a little bit more about the acid quote part thingy. People get mad all the time and Mark Twain is saying that this is a terrible thing; perhaps that people need to control their behavior and emotions a little bit better. Getting angry really never does get you what you want. People lose their tempers all the time but when does that ever accomplish anything? There really isn’t a point to it. Instead of moping or lashing out people should actively try to accomplish what they want done. Angry talk isn’t going to solve your problem. I’ve found quite the opposite is a ton more effective—keeping a sunny positive outlook on life. I’m rarely angry and I’ve noticed that I rarely need to be. It’s funny how those who often lash out tend to have more of a reason to then those of us who don’t. However I am trying to imply that this isn’t why they lash out, so much as that is why bad things happen. Keep your temper under control and you won’t find yourself quite so angry nearly as often.
ReplyDeleteI agree she is stereotyping Americans and it's not cool. Just because some losers trashed it doesn't mean we are all like that. Lots of us are smart and can respect the tradition and culture of Hawaii. It's not like we go there to trash it, we go there because it's beautiful. Its not their land, its everyone’s land. Just like we respect their culture, they need to respect ours. So what if we love fast food? That doesn't make us any less humane. If they didn't want us to be there then they wouldn't sell their land to rich business owners for them to build hotels and stuff. Plus its not like the hotels are everywhere, I’m sure there’s plenty of space and beach spots where tourists don't step foot on. They need to calm down and learn to share. I wish everyone wasn't so angry.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a right to their own feelings and thoughts. I know she is upset with the situation going on in her beautiful homeland. She has to learn to over come it and welcome the tourists into her culture. If she is negative about the situation she will live her life in a state of depression. Tourism is what keeps Hawaii's economy going and without them it would be a deserted island. So she needs to take a step back and view the positives of the situation instead of having a pessimistic outlook.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this quote. I beleive that it is very true. Anger hurts the person that is angry more than the people that the anger is taken out on. But I also believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. She is upset about how her homeland has changed and I can understand her anger. There is no "right" or "wrong" time to be angry. Anyone can be angry whenever they want. Yeah it doesnt seem fair that she is telling us not to go to Hawaii but honestly she cant MAKE us not go. So let her say what she wants to say. She just wants to tell people her opinion. If you dont agree with her then you dont agree.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I was saying in class. She was such a troll! I just wanted to write "U Mad?" at the end! But guess what, that's the world. People get mad at everything. There are some people who just can't appreciate anything.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wouldn't blame all sorts of anger. There are two basic types of anger: righteous anger and spiteful anger. Righteous anger is when somebody is angry over something that anybody should be angry about, like rape. An example of this is the Bible story where Jesus flips out at the temple when he sees all the corruption at a holy place. Spiteful anger is.... well spite. It's pretty self explanatory.